Women in Koudougou

Women in Koudougou, Burkina Faso working in an artisan dye center called Long NГ©erГ©, meaning Cotton Beauty in the moorГ©, the local language. To create the motif on the fabric, they use a wooden stamp, here carved into a butterfly, which they dip paraffin and press on the fabric. The fibers under the wax will not absorb the color. The center employs 10 women, their fabrics are sold for home use and clothing, locally and in Europe. Photo by Dani Voirin.
Women in Koudougou, Burkina Faso working in an artisan dye center called Long NГ©erГ©, meaning Cotton Beauty in the moorГ©, the local language. To create the motif on the fabric, they use a wooden stamp, here carved into a butterfly, which they dip paraffin and press on the fabric. The fibers under the wax will not absorb the color. The center employs 10 women, their fabrics are sold for home use and clothing, locally and in Europe. Photo by Dani Voirin.

To see more from contributing artist Danielle Voirin, click here.

2 thoughts on “Women in Koudougou”

  1. These women do not weave the fabric, they only do the dying and motifs. It’s later sewn into clothes, table cloths, sheets, curtains, etc. by another team.

    Cotton is Burkina’s number one export, the majority going to Asia. I was told there used to be more manufacturing in the country but many factories have closed. The fabric that you see most often being weaved there is for the pagnes bought at the market to make clothing (there was a recent Daily Photo of the fabric market in Ouagadougou).

  2. Do these women make the fabric as well? Just curious. We are kinduv weaver dead in America, I think. Now there’s a topic of research. Thanks. I smell sewing machine.

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